How To Choose The Best Functional Medicine Doctor …

Many health conditions don’t simply go away on their own or with a quick round of medicine. At some point, you might be dealing with hormonal changes that naturally occur with age. Or, your hectic lifestyle might be impacted by common maladies such as joint pain, fatigue or headaches.

When you’re facing new or chronic health symptoms, it’s important to know where to turn for help. Finding the right functional medicine doctor Chicago residents rely on is easier when you know what to look for in your new healthcare provider.

What Is Functional Medicine?

When you’re wondering, “Is functional medicine legit?”, you might be worried about wasting time on treatments that don’t work. Fortunately, you can put your worries at ease. Functional medicine simply involves going a bit further than conventional health care does.

With conventional medicine, the focus is typically on addressing the symptoms. For instance, a doctor might offer you medicine to ease back pain. While this may work temporarily, the issue may continue returning if you don’t take steps to address the underlying cause of your discomfort.

Functional medicine will include care to address your symptoms as quickly as possible. But, your doctor will also offer additional forms of care. For instance, nutritional guidance and therapeutic exercises could help improve the way the muscles and ligaments align along your spine.

How Do You Choose Between Integrative Medicine vs. Functional Medicine?

The good news is that you don’t always have to choose between one or the other. If you prefer to start out using lifestyle changes and other holistic health practices, then your functional medicine doctor can help.

Integrative medicine includes lifestyle changes but also combines traditional medical care into the plan. For instance, someone with perimenopausal symptoms or low testosterone might choose to use hormone replacement therapy to improve their wellbeing. After assessing your health, a functional medicine doctor might also recommend dietary changes, exercise and stress relief practices to help alleviate your symptoms.

When you begin looking for a functional medicine doctor, it’s important to find out if they combine more than one type of care. Treating the body as a network of systems that rely on each other for good health ensures that you don’t leave a possible treatment out of your plan.

How Can A Functional Medicine Doctor Help Improve Your Health?

Many adults deal with burnout, which leaves them physically and mentally incapacitated. You might notice that your chronic pain or fatigue makes it hard to work or care for your family. In some cases, health challenges can lead to new ones.

A functional medicine doctor will take the time to get to know you during an initial consultation. Once they know your health status and perform potential testing, they’ll have a clearer picture of what the root causes could be for your symptoms. Uncovering the root cause of burnout, anxiety or exhaustion allows your doctor to create a customized care plan that provides you with relief.

Viewing your new healthcare plan as a lifestyle means that you’ll be less likely to see your symptoms return. Making lifestyle changes and combining them with bioidentical hormone treatment and other types of care also helps you to greet each new day with vitality that lasts.

How To Find A Functional Medicine Doctor That Understands Your Concerns

When you’re ready to work with a functional medicine doctor in Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, or any other town or city that residents trust with their health, you’ll also want to find someone who listens. Both functional and integrative medicine require physicians to take into account each patient’s health history and current concerns. By finding a doctor who takes the time to fully understand the whole picture, you can receive a treatment plan that helps you enjoy better overall wellbeing.